John Fullbright is the Grammy nominee you’ve probably never heard of — hell, he got the news via text message while scrubbing his bathtub in Oklahoma.

The 24-year-old’s debut, “From the Ground Up,” is up for Americana album of the year. It’s a crowded field this year with commercial juggernauts Mumford & Sons, the Avett Brothers and the Lumineers nominated along with roots royalty Bonnie Raitt. And while it’s doubtful there were many Grammy voters in attendance Saturday night at the near-capacity Beachland Tavern, it’s also a shame.

Fullbright’s performance surely would have swung some votes.

Alternating between his keyboard and an acoustic guitar, Fullbright was captivating. The Tavern can be a tough place to hold an audience, with the bar flanking one entire side of the room. But while he played most of “From the Ground Up,” he kept the room with him through a pile of new material as well.

Almost anachronistically soulful and arguably a better songwriter on the keys, he was most engaging with his guitar. Out front, acoustic in hand, you could see his demeanor shift. A snarl would creep into his voice, mischief into his eyes.

Album standouts came off even better live. The rabble-rousing stomp of “Gawd Above” and alt-country perfection of “Jericho” stand shoulder-to-shoulder with anything on “Babel” or “The Carpenter.”

And that will make it interesting to watch what happens with the Grammy’s.

The most arcane of the nominees, Fullbright is certainly not out of his depth in that group of luminaries. If anything, as he showed Saturday night, his breadth as a songwriter and charisma as a performer may well help him exceed them. Maybe not this year, rightfully or not, but soon.

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